Basad, winner of the Navy Pro-Am and Cyanamid Open this year, caught up with twice Honda-Siel PGA champion and his citymate Uttam Singh Mundy on top of the board with an aggregate of seven-under 137 after two rounds. Mundy, who shot four-under 68 yesterday, was a picture of consistency and played three-under 69 today.

In joint third place were overnight joint leader Akbar Ali, Color Plus Open winner Sanjay Kumar, Vivek Bhandari and veteran Rohtas Singh at three-under 141.

The cut was applied at seven-over 151 and 44 pros made it to the third round. Basad played a bogey-free round. One-under after eight holes, thanks to a birdie on the fourth, the 42-year-old caught fire after that. A birdie on the ninth was followed by an excellent 18-footer putt on the 12th for another. He then made birdies on the 14th and 15th holes, before climaxed in thrilling fashion by sinking a 30-footer for his final birdie on the 18th after a nine-iron approach shot left him on the edge of the green.

Two bogies, including a missed four-footer par putt on the third, ruined what could have been a much better card for Mundy. The twice winner this year in the Wills Sport Golf Tour (Honda-Siel PGA Championship and BPGC Open), nevertheless seemed pleased with his performance as he made five birdies.

Scores (after 36 holes): 137- Basad Ali, Uttam Singh Mundy, 141-Rohtas Singh, Akbar Ali, Sanjay Kumar, Vivek Bhandari, 142-Ali Sher, Amritinder Singh, Vijay Kumar, Balbir Verma, Mukesh Kumar, 144-Gaurav Ghei, Jyoti Randhawa.